Hi everyone! I know it's been a long time since I've updated and let me reassure you that I'm not giving up on this or any of my other stories, life seems to keep getting in the way but I will continue with all of them and I'm hoping to do a sequel for this one as well. This isn't the final chapter, I've got a few more loose ends to tie up in this story which will then lead to a sequel.
There is a lack of Klaroline in this chapter but I will make up for it, I just needed the other issues to be played out first.
I hope you enjoy it!
"I've missed that." She murmured.
"What?"
"You calling me sweetheart and love." She said imitating his accent causing him to chuckle as they left the house.
"That was terrible."
"But you loved it." He squeezed her hand gently.
"I do love it. I love you."
'I love you, too."
Katherine rolled her eyes as she hung up the phone and looked over at Nadia who was sipping at a blood bag slowly.
"So Caroline and Klaus?" Nadia said quietly as she glanced at her mother who sighed and placed her phone on the breakfast bar.
"Yep."
"We're still leaving then?"
"Yeah." Katherine's voice was hoarse when she answered and stared at the table as she tapped her nail against her phone.
"Why do you sound so unsure?" Nadia asked softly as she reached out to her mother's hands but pulled back when the curly brunette was pulled out of her deep thoughts and abruptly stood from her seat flipping her hair back over her shoulder.
"I'm not. The moment Caroline gets back, we're leaving. Nothing to be unsure of Nadia. Now get some more blood down your throat, you still seem a little pale."
"I'm a vampire, I'm obviously going to look pale." Katherine rolled her eyes at her daughter but felt a sense of pride run through her hearing her retort. It was obvious, from her tanned skin, the lilt in her accent and strong demeanor that Nadia was Katherine's daughter. Her stubbornness shone through as did her strong opinions all molding her into a Petrova.
"Hush Nadia, now drink. We've got a long journey ahead of us, how do you feel about Hawaii?" Nadia rolled her eyes.
"Hawaii?" She scrunched her nose at the suggestion which Katherine noticed.
"What's wrong with Hawaii, it's a beautiful place. I've been there a few times over the years and it's such a stunning place."
"Fine, but it seems so obvious. I was thinking more Italy." Katherine shook her head.
"Caroline said that she didn't want to go to Rome, Paris or Tokyo, have no idea why but something tells me it has to do with Klaus."
"Fine. Hawaii it is." Nadia glanced over her mother's shoulder to see Damon enter the kitchen whilst Katherine heard his footsteps which led to the chair opposite the two women. He sat down and placed his head in his hands before running them down his face and slouching back in his chair. Nadia rolled her eyes at him before grabbing a bottle of scotch from the side counter and sliding over to him. He looked up and nodded at her just as he opened the bottle and took a swig straight from it. Katherine watched him as he drowned his sorrows in the drink, there was something in his eyes which had shattered. The hard walls he kept up usually had been struck down and all that was left behind was a shell filled with sadness.
"You look like someone kicked your puppy." Katherine said hoping to get a reaction out of him but he said nothing, instead he took another drink from the bottle and slammed it down onto the bar. "Ok, well, we're just head off and leave you to wallow in your misery." She got up as Nadia did the same.
"Why did you choose him?" It came out in a broken whisper which she would have missed was it not for her vampire hearing. She glanced at Nadia silently conveying a message causing her to leave the room. She turned back to him to meet his eyes. "What was it that he had, which I didn't?" Katherine's brow furrowed at the question which caught her off guard.
"You're talking about Stefan." His jaw clenched as he nodded and exhaled slowly. She sat back down in her seat facing him. "It doesn't work like that Damon." His eyes locked onto hers. "You and Stefan are so similar yet, so different. The first time I came to Mystic Falls, I wanted you. Both of you. Not because I was in love with either but because it was…fun." Her eyes were downcast as she spoke, her voice didn't have her usual sharp edge to it, instead it seemed lost in distant memories. "I knew what I was doing Damon, I didn't choose Stefan or you to spend an eternity with or to love. I knew exactly what I was doing, and to put it bluntly I was toying with the both of you. I was selfish and I ruined both of your lives." Her lips curved into a smirk and she looked up to see his emotionless face focused on her. "I'm not sorry for I did Damon but I'm telling you the truth when I say that you and Stefan are so different, you offer different things and in a human life you would be the dangerous one whilst Stefan would be the safe choice." Damon took another sip of the scotch letting the auburn liquid burn down his throat as her words resounded into his ears. "I can't explain Elena's choices and I'm not even going to waste my time in trying." Katherine sighed as she got no further reaction from him. "Look. I'm not good at this whole comforting thing and I really am not going to cuddle with you or offer you some kind words in compensation but all I can say is that she isn't worth it." Her words came out softly letting them drift off into the silence.
"Why not?" Katherine rolled her eyes at him but understood where he was coming from. He needed a justification to give up on her, something which could give him reason to move on. Something which Elijah had done so many times whilst using his family as an excuse. Stops it Katerina, this is no time to wallow in self-pity. Rolling her shoulders back she stood up from her seat.
"Once you've lived as long as I have, you learn that betrayal is an essential feature of life, you can't escape it or bargain with it. It will always be there, round the corner, waiting. But the one thing you can do is to remove yourself from the situation that brings betrayal. Elena chose to sleep with your brother, Stefan chose to betray you."
"It was a mistake." He whispered trying to hold himself together. Their moment was interrupted by the arrival of his brother and former girlfriend who froze as they saw Damon sitting beside Katherine. He saw them from the corner of his eye but couldn't bring himself to fully look upon either of them. Katherine licked her dry lips and waited for Stefan or her doppleganger to speak but neither did.
"Cheating isn't a mistake, Damon. It's a choice. It was their choice to put you through that. How can you love someone who goes out of their way to hurt you?" She said quietly but it was loud enough to echo in the room. Katherine locked her eyes on Damon whose shoulders tensed as he heard Elena's voice.
"Damon…" it was a hoarse whisper radiating through his head. His back became rigid and he nodded at Katherine who copied the gesture and flashed away leaving the three in the room on their own.
Stefan glanced at Elena and back at Damon. His whole body was on fire, not the kind that brought a stinging burn when flames lapped at your skin, not the kind from such passion which was overwhelming. No. Neither of those. It was the kind that slowly, oh ever so slowly, washed over your skin like prickles caught in a whirlwind with no seeable end. It welcomed a hollow feeling inside his chest, a certain emptiness that had settled as the heat rose on the outside, was he the only one feeling like this? He looked back at Elena who had taken a step forward but stilled, was she feeling it too? Or was this only earned from the betrayal of your own flesh and blood?
Elena took a deep breath filling her lungs with useless air and walked towards Damon resolutely hoping to be able to explain herself. But what explanation was there? I'm so sorry I fucked your brother behind your back. Yep, totally self-explanatory. She stopped as she reached her place beside Damon who took a final gulp of the bottle emptying it and tossing it in the open garbage can. The glass shattered into pieces as it hit the bottom of the can, the pieces tinkled against each other for a few seconds before laying in their final resting place. Elena lifted her fingers slowly and hesitated before placing them softly on his tense arm which relaxed under her touch. Taking it as a good sign she stepped closer letting her other hand rest on his arm as well.
"I'm sorry." He didn't move an inch. She blinked twice at his motionless stature before repeating herself. "I'm so sorry, Damon." Damon could hear the air wheeze into her lungs as she fought against the croakiness of her voice.
"Stefan, leave." The words left Damon's mouth in a strong tone as if they were a command, Stefan's lips parted and he glanced at Elena who blocked his view of his brother. She didn't turn but instead tightened her grip on Damon's arms digging in her nails. "Now." It came out as a whisper but it was resolute enough to make Stefan walk away without glancing back.
Elena swallowed hard before sitting in the seat previously occupied by Katherine. "Damon, I am sorry for what I did…it just happened and…I…" Tears began sliding down her cheeks as she looked at him and waited for some acknowledgement. "Please, Damon, it meant nothing, I love you, only you." His hand slowly moved up his arm to her hands to cover them, Elena gasped at the contact and clutched onto his fingers.
"Do you know….how long…I've loved you?" Elena gulped but thought back to their confessions a year ago.
"A year." He chuckled with no emotion.
"4 years 2 months and 5 days." Elena's eyes widened, "Give or take a few months." He clutched her hands tightly and slowly placed them on the counter in front of her as he rose to his feet still avoiding her eyes. "And what do I have to show for it. A girl who found pleasure in someone else's arms as she told me adamantly that she was in love with me."
"I do love you Da-" His eyes locked onto hers and her voice stilled as she saw the coldness of his dark blue eyes which were only a shade lighter from being an all-consuming black. His jaw was defined sharply by his clenched teeth.
"Don't. Lie. To. Me. Not anymore." His voice was deadly. "I have spent too many lifetimes being hurt over and over and over again, betrayal after betrayal. I thought Katherine had managed to break me for good when I found out that she wasn't in the tomb, but you…oh sweet, innocent Elena Gilbert. You are capable of so much more." He swallowed at the tightness in his chest and tried to hold back the tears that threatened to fall as he continued. "I love you, Elena. Obviously much more than you ever did, no matter how sweet or reassuring your words were. Out of all these years that I have felt this way about you, I have always put you or Stefan first. I let you make the first move, made sure that you were safe, every single time that you were in danger. I've killed for you, lied for you, taking hits for you. It was all for you, Elena, every single moment." It came out as a mere whisper that held so much weight, his fingers reached out to grasp her arms gently, holding her like he had done the first time he told her he loved her. "I don't a regret a moment, but what I do regret was believing your lies." His voice morphed into a hiss as he stepped back from her., releasing her harshly and glaring.
"Damon, please. I don't' regret any of it either, what happened with Stefan was nothing compared with moments with you. I need you Damon, I love you. Don't do this, don't break us." His chuckle resonated throughout the house reaching the rooms where the others resided, some of who were listening in.
"It's not possible for me to break us, you already did that the moment you chose to cheat on me." He smirked at her before stepping closer. "And let's face it, we both know I'm not good enough to forgive you, or stupid enough to trust you again." He gave her one final look before stepping to the side and walking passed her, leaving her with tears covering her cheeks and fingers digging into the counter. He stopped as he reached the doorway. "The funny thing is…I always believed that you were the woman I would love for an eternity, the woman I could trust with my heart to keep it safe and loved, the woman I would someday marry even if it seems too human for me. I thought you were the one, Elena, and look how stupid I've been…" His voice trailed off as he walked away from her towards the stairs which led up to Stefan who was pacing in one of the guest rooms in the compound.
Meanwhile…
"I can't get her to settle Elijah." Hayley hissed as she bounced on her heels with Hope in her arms, the little girl wailed out painting her own face red and covering it in tears that escaped her eyes. Elijah unbuttoned his suit jacket and placed it over the chair that sat in the corner of the nursery. He moved closer slowly flickering his eyes over the screaming girl wondering what the best way to tackle this situation was, following his instinct, he reached out his arms gesturing for Hayley to place his niece into his open arms which she did slowly. Hope continued to cry as well as squirm and wriggle in his stiff arms.
"Shhh, my dear. Your father will be home soon and he wouldn't want his darling daughter to be unhappy, would he?" She flung out her arms nearly catching the tip of Elijah's nose only to have him move back slightly and hold her at an uneven angle as he avoided her hits.
"Elijah, do something, why is she crying so much?' Hayley asked with exasperation clear in her voice. He looked up at her and shook his head.
"Have you fed her?"
"Yes, just now" She shook the empty baby bottle.
"Changed her."
"Yeah."
"Well she seems to be uncomfortable, so there must be something wrong." Hayley rolled her eyes at him but glanced down at her daughter who kept wailing.
"Have you burped her?" A voice interrupted them. Katherine was stood by the door leaning against it with a smirk on her face as she grimaced at the sight of Elijah holding a crying child in his arms with such stiffness.
"What?" Hayley asked confused. The doppleganger rolled her eyes and stepped into the room grabbing the towel which sat on the side on top of the chest of drawers.
"Burped her. You just said you fed her, so have you burped her?" Hayley open and closed her mouth a few times before looking over at Elijah who shook his head. Katherine hung the towel over Elijah's free shoulder patting it down to keep it steady. "Move her over." Elijah brought Hope up to his shoulder and let her chin rest on the towel. "Just rub her back in a soothing way then pat it." He placed his hand on the tiny creature's back and started patting it causing Katherine to shake her head and catch his hand in hers. "No, rub, slowly." She lead his hand back down onto Hope's onesie cover back and smoothed his hand over in gentle circles as Hope's crying died down and she stopped for a second. Elijah and Hayley smiled at the peace before they heard a groan come from the baby and a sudden squelch. Katherine stifled a laugh as she lifted Elijah's hand up and down in a gentle patting motion and then looked over his shoulder at the little girl. "There, now just need to clean you up a bit." She murmured to herself releasing Elijah and moving behind him to clean Hope's mouth with the towel which she slowly took from Elijah and grimaced at as she laid it back down. "All done. She looks a little tired, you should put her to sleep now." She said softly as she backed away from them and gave them a small smile before leaving the room and heading back towards Nadia who stood in the corridor with a smirk displayed over her lips. Katherine rolled her eyes at her daughter bypassing her nearly bumping into Damon who seemed wrecked. He moved passed her with resolute steps until he reached the wooden door that lead into one of the guest rooms, Katherine furrowed her brow in confusion until, she heard Stefan pacing behind the door. Damon reached out to the door knob, twisting it, letting it open wide enough to fit him through before the door closed behind him slowly and quietness descended on the landing. Her eyes flickered to the bottom of the steps to where Elena was standing with tears having run down her cheeks and her arms crossed over her body holding her together. The double doors opened in the courtyard to reveal Caroline and Klaus talking as they held hands. Katherine glanced over her shoulder to see Elijah and Hayley emerging from the nursery. The sound of a vase smashing against the door caused them to freeze, Klaus and Caroline's smiles dropped as they looked up over the balcony to see Katherine, Nadia, Elijah and Hayley standing on the landing whilst Elena stood on the foot of the stairs. Shouting reverberated through the building as Stefan and Damon entered a full blown out fight.
Inside…
"Hello brother…" Damon said in a deadly tone just like he had done the first time he had met up with Stefan back in Mystic Falls.
"Damon, listen to me. What happened between me and Elena was a mistake, I don't feel anything for her, not anymore. Please Dam-" He was knocked to the floor by a swift punch from Damon who was seething with rage.
"You don't feel anything for her? THEN WHY THE HELL DID YOU SCREW HER?!" He screamed from the top of his lungs as he reached down and grabbed Stefan by his jacket collar and hosted him up against the wall as he clenched his teeth. The line where Stena's lip had split as healing but didn't prevent blood from slipping down his chin. "Answer me, why?" He hissed slamming his brother back into the wall causing it to crumble and dent.
"I'm sorry, please, I'm sorry Damon." Damon clenched his eyes shut before opening them ever so slowly letting a dark shadow come over his face."
"Empty words, brother, didn't mother teach you not to lie, oh wait, she's dead." Damon flung him across the room to hit the wardrobe which splintered into pieces of wood, some of which had embedded themselves in Stefan's skin. Stefan growled as he felt the sharp edges pierce through his skin and looked up to see his brother approaching him slowly with a menacing smile on his face. "Has Ripper Stef come out to play?" He provoked him as he knelt down in front of his sibling and his smile dropped to a cold, hard exterior.
"Damon, stop it, I know you blame me, but it happened and I can't change that."
"But you could have stopped yourself, I mean, you're my brother. I get it. You couldn't stand to see me happy so you took her from me." Stefan flashed up facing his brother head on.
"I didn't take her from you." Damon chuckled before nodding.
"Oh, yeah, no she just opened her legs for you just like a common whore. Thought she had some class…" Stefan's jaw clenched which Damon noticed and his smirk drew wider. "Would you look at that, that minute twitch in your jaw, the anger buried beneath the surface. You've been really holding out to hurt me haven't you, after Elena chose to be with me. You just grasped at the chance to betray me." The elder Salvatore backed away slowly as he clapped his hands without mirth. "Well, I must say I'm impressed brother, but let me just remind you that the first time anything between Elena and me happened, she was the one who came to me, she spread her legs and she loved every second of it. It was her choice and you blamed me for that." Stefan lunged at him at full speed flipping him over and onto the floor as he heaved through clenched teeth whilst Damon gritted his and flashed up pushing his brother away with a kick to his chest. "But you know what, feel free to fawn over her now, I mean it's just my leftovers, but go ahead. I'm sure she'll fall right back into your arms brother." Damon grabbed a large piece from the wardrobe which had toppled over and flashed to Stefan who was panting heavily as he lay against the wall. Damon pushed the stake through Stefan's chest, missing his heart by a few inches, as he brought his lips against his ear. "I hate you, my own flesh and blood, for betraying me. You have always been chosen before me, with father, with mother, Elena. All of them, all of the people I loved. And I hate you for that, I despise you for all of that." He pushed the stake in a few more inches before moving back and placing his hand on Stefan's shoulder as the latter gasped with wide eyes at Damon's words and cold eyes. "I'll see you in a century or two…" He stood up, sparing a glance at his younger brother who clutched at the wooden pole in his chest but still kept his eyes locked onto Damon's. The dark haired sibling shook his head in disappointment before treading through the shattered vase pieces in front of the door and opening it to walking out to see the others standing frozen. He showed off his signature smirk before breathing in deeply and walking down the steps straight past Elena who was staring at him in disbelief. He ignored her completely and smiled as he walked towards Klaus and Caroline who were stood before the exit.
Just as he opened his mouth to speak, his body went barreling forward onto the ground as a hefty weight was set on top of him. He was spun round to see Stefan straddling his torso raising his fist and slamming it against his jaw repeatedly causing a searing pain to throb through his jaw as he swung with full power and broke his jaw.
"Stop it! Stefan, stop it!" Elena wailed as she stepped closer but choked on the words as he didn't listen. Marcel, Rebekah, Kol and Bonnie appeared from behind Caroline and Klaus to be welcomed by the violent sight.
"Bloody hell." Kol murmured as he saw the younger Salvatore going at his brother with full force as his vampire face came out. "Looks like we've stepped into some fun, can I join?" Kol asked with a smirk on his lips causing Bonnie to roll her eyes at him and slap his arm, the Original looked at the witch who had dared to touch him but was lost in her doe eyes as she glared at him. The moment broke when they heard a crack in the wall foundation and turned back their heads to see Damon smashing Stefan's head into the wall repeatedly causing the brick to crumble and dust to cover both of them.
"What's up little brother, cat got your tongue?!" Damon let out a malicious laugh as he threw his brother away to the opposite wall causing a sharp snap to resound in the courtyard as Stefan's ribs broke on impact. The noise had echoed through into the nursery interrupting Hope's peaceful sleep awakening her and causing her to resume to wail loudly as the fight below her continued.
Klaus grit his teeth as he heard is daughter begin crying, he glanced up to see Hayley disappear back into the nursery but his little girl's crying didn't die down whilst the brothers continued to fight. They both had blood pouring from split skin which had begun healing but was again ripped open by renewed blows to their bodies. As much as he hated having to stop the gruesome yet entertaining battle between the two lesser beings, he rolled his eyes and had made up his mind to snap both of their necks and throw them to the side to be handled later until Hope was safely taken to the mansion on the outskirts of town. But just before he could commence, Caroline had already formed a plan to carry out.
Caroline felt Klaus tense at Hope's cries, Hayley brought her out of the room to calm her but she looked down and shook her head at them gesturing that she wasn't settling. Glancing at the scene before her, she sighed as she took in Elena's screeching and the Salvatores who were still at it. She saw Katherine look at her with a sly smile causing the blonde to roll her eyes knowing that the brunette had played some sort of part in the climax of this.
Bonnie couldn't help but feel a burning anger ignite inside of her, the death, the pain, the loss, the damage. All the things that she, they all, had to put up with. Every moment had been building up until she reached her limit. She had died twice. Been used over and over again. She had taken 'one for the team' too many times to keep track of. And she was sick of it. The shouting coupled with the screeching of the baby and Elena's wailing were causing everything to burn through her veins again. Caroline glanced over her shoulder to see Bonnie tense up and slam her eyes shut tightly whilst taking deep breathes. Bonnie had seen Caroline look back and in that tiny moment had also seen the darkness in the girl's eyes. The previous cornflower blue shade had become a permanent azure blue from everything that she had gone through, images of what she had observed in Caroline's curse flashed through her head and tears welled up but she avoided opening her eyes. That was until she felt drops of burning hot liquid splatter across her face. Her eyes slammed open to see Stefan having thrown a punch at Damon too close to her. Looking down, she saw trickles of blood covering her shirt and settling just below her neck. The crimson liquid had also landed in her smooth hair and was dripping onto the floor.
Bonnie's mind began going into overdrive, the veins in her frayed as magic surged through her blood and a certain blackness emerged in her eyes which she tried to fight back but couldn't. She could feel someone slowly take her hand in theirs but she couldn't make out whose it was.
Caroline breathed through clenched teeth as she felt the blood hit her and Klaus as well as Kol and Bonnie. Damon had thrown Stefan away again but this time, just as they moved back towards each other, Caroline flashed in between grabbing them by their necks and putting pressure on their rapid pulses. The brother's chocked on air as Caroline lifted them off the ground only allowing their feet to graze the floor, their hands clutched onto the one holding their throats and tried to claw it off but Caroline wasn't having any of that.
"Stefan, Damon, do you two think that you could stop clawing each other's eyes out?" She asked with an eerie calmness to her voice as she moved her eyes to Stefan and then to Damon.
"Caroline, let me go." Stefan hissed out earning a tight squeeze of his neck nearly crushing his bones. Damon remained silent but grabbed her hand and tried to force it off resulting in nothing but a waste of energy. The blonde exhaled deeply before clicking her tongue in annoyance.
"That wasn't the 'yes' I was looking for." She sighed and shrugged her shoulders. "Oh, well. Night, night, boys." She flicked her wrist and released letting the Salvatores fall to the floor. The only sound left was Hope whose crying had died down to small whimpers, but it was soon joined by a gasp from Bonnie whose knees gave out suddenly. She was caught by Kol who had noticed her body tense during the previous debacle and slowly intertwined his fingers with hers. He became even more worried when she didn't pull back like he had expected her to and the feeling grew when he saw her eyes roll back as her body crumpled to the floor. His arms shot out to catch her before she hit the ground and he hoisted her up in a cradling way as her eyes became ash white.
"Bonnie?" Kol asked quietly as he looked upon her face, glancing up he saw Caroline flash to them, her fingers came up to brush the witch's cheek but the latter didn't react.
"Bon? Hey, can you hear me?" The blonde asked as she grasped her cheeks and shook her slightly. "Bonnie, look at me." She demanded but Bonnie didn't answer, instead she began shaking violently in Kol's arms. "Bon, Bonnie, stop." Katherine flashed away and returned with Lucy in mere minutes who ran to her cousin. "Lulu, what's happening to her?" Lucy's eyes ran over her body taking in the shaking girl's form.
"She's overwhelmed with magic, put her on the floor." Kol lowered her gently and kneeled beside her as Lucy mimicked his movement and placed her fingers on the girl's temple slowly pulling Bonnie out from whatever trance she was in. "Bonnie, can you hear me? Focus on my voice." She said slowly as the white's cleared and were replaced with the girl's natural honey browns.
"Bonnie?" Caroline whispered as she moved closer to the girl who blinked as she regained a sense of reality.
"What?" She asked with a hoarse voice and confused tone. "What happened?"
"You fainted, lass." Kol said softly as he brushed back a strand of hair from her face and tucked it back behind her ear.
"More like had a seizure Bonnie." Lucy interjected. "You've become overwhelmed with magic, you need to take a break." Bonnie raised herself on her elbows and glanced around before pulling herself up to stand with Kol's help who gently held her.
"A break?"
"Like a vacation, darling. How does Spain sound, I've heard it's got lovely beaches. What do you think?" Bonnie nodded before she stilled and turned to look at him in shock.
"I'm not going anywhere with you." She said before pulling herself out of his hold and rubbing her temple. "But, yeah, a vacation sounds good." She murmured. Kol grinned at her rejection this one is definitely a challenge, one I'm willing to take. He raised his hands in surrender.
"I'm sure I could persuade you, BonBon." She glared at him causing his smirk to widen.
"One, don't call me that and two, you can try all you like but I might just fry your brains. In fact, go ahead, I'd love to cause you pain." She gritted through her teeth as she swayed slightly only for Kol to catch and steady her.
"I didn't know you were kinky like that Miss Bennett." He winked earning a scoff.
"Could you two get a room, you're making me want to puke." Rebekah said with disgust, Klaus rolled his eyes before moving towards his daughter who was being held on the balcony by Hayley, she continued to whimper quietly until he gently took in his arms and breathed in her scent finding comfort in such a fragile being. He glanced back down to the others to see the commotion which had resumed.
"Caroline." It came out as a whisper which caused everything to freeze. Bonnie cautiously eyed her blonde friend who offered her a shy smile in return. The brunette moved closer slowly afraid that the action would cause the other to bolt away.
"Hey." She said softly as the witch approached her. Bonnie stilled a few meters from the blonde, she licked her dry lips trying to figure out what to say when her tears gathered in her eyes suddenly and she felt a lump in her throat as images of what she had seen in the dream state flashed across her mind. Caroline could see the range of emptions flash across her face and waited for the brunette to move towards her but was stunned at what she said.
"I'm sorry…" it came out as a hoarse whisper and if it wasn't for her advanced hearing she would have missed it. Once those words had escaped Bonnie's lips it opened up the floodgate as teardrops began running down her cheeks uncontrollably and she stood frozen on her spot like a child who was going to be punished. "I'm so sorry, so, so sorry. I should have done more, I-I'm sorry Care…" her voice came out broken as she took little gasps of air in between her words trying to fill her lungs with escaping air. "I don't know what to do, I'm sorry Caroline, tell me how to fix this, please, I-I…" her words stuttered as she cried out to Caroline.
Caroline swiftly walked towards her but stilled before Bonnie, the brunette wiped away her tears trying to hold the next shower back as her lips pouted out softly with wide eyes. The blonde slowly raised her hands placing them against Bonnie's cheeks before wiping a few stray tears.
"You tried. And that's all that matters to me." She said quietly before moving her hands around the girls shoulder and hugging her tightly as Bonnie cried into her shoulder continuing to mumble stuttered apologies into Caroline's soft skin.
"I love you, Carebear."
"I love you too, Bon Bon." Caroline said as she closed her eyes with a sigh of relief as she felt Bonnie's gentle puffs of breath against her neck.
"Caroline." A gentle voice pulled her out of her reverie and she pulled away from Bonnie to see Father Kieran who had just entered with Camille beside him.
"Father Kieran." She gave him a small nod which he returned with a smile, her eyes dropped down to the silver butterfly chain that he held in his hand.
Flashback…
"Mommy, are you going to die?" I said softly as I saw her place a pure white bandage across her grazed knee. I felt the warmth that completed me as her hand cupped my 7 year old face grazing her fingers across the apples of my cheeks.
"Not for a long, long time." I watched as the butterfly which hung on her necklace glistened in the sunlight as if it was fluttering its wings softly in the wind feeling the cool breeze against its tissue thin skin.
"Promise?" She gave me a small smile as she took my finger and placed it over her heart drawing a cross over it.
"Cross my heart…" She whispered letting the wind carry away her words…
Caroline took in a deep breath as he approached her slowly with the chain in his outstretched hand. Her fingers began trembling as her ears heard the delicate thuds as his shoes touched the ground blowing up a subtle dust from the stone ground. Her eyes pinpointed the flecks of dust that had risen and the speckles that now floated in the air.
Oh how a single touch could wreck such havoc.
She swallowed nervously as he stopped before her and held his hand up letting the chain swing from his fingers.
"I found it." He whispered in a lax tone then pausing momentarily allowing the blonde to absorb the information. Caroline's lips curled up into a smile before she threw her arms around him and he chuckled with a sense of relief at the reaction.
"Thank you, so much." She pulled back as he took her hand and placed the lightweight piece onto the palm of her hand before curling her fingers over it. "How?"
"You're not the only one with contacts, Caroline. I had a friend in Mystic Falls, he helped."
"Who?"
"Me." Caroline's lips parted in shock as she saw him, he stood tall with a greater sense of confidence, his baby blue eyes were the most peaceful she had ever seen and his smile was a new source of brightness. His hands were buried deep within his pockets like they would always do when he was nervous and his dark blonde hair was cut short like it she remembered it.
Flashback
"Hey Care, you leaving already?" He asked with sympathy as he picked up her empty glass.
"Yeah," I glanced at Nadia who was sitting with a blank face in the booth staring down at the empty glass running her finger along the clear rim, "we're just going go back to the dorm, have a girl's night in, you know." He nodded accepting my answer with a soft smile.
"You know," he glanced over at Nadia before looking back at me," I used to hate her, Katherine. Everyone did, it wasn't surprising since she'd hurt all of us. But watching her the past few weeks, I think I get it. She lost her daughter, had been on the run, fell in love with a man who pushed her aside for his family and then was forced to spend the first and last few weeks with her daughter waiting to die." He wiped the surface of the bar before stilling. "She wanted love and happiness but was denied the freedom for either. I hated her before, and now…I admire her, strange, isn't it. How time can be rewritten without being forgotten." He murmured before giving me a final smile as I got up and took Nadia in my arms leading her outside of the Grill.
"He's a sweet boy, I like him." I rolled my eyes at her.
"You had a threesome with him over the summer, of course you like him…"
"Matt…"
"Hey Care…"
I hope you liked it and what do you think of adding Matt? He's like a new hold on humanity just like Father Kieran, they've both made big impacts on Caroline's recovery which I will explore in the next chapter.
Are there any parings that you guys would like to see? I'm having trouble deciding if I should pair Rebekah with anyone? Stefan, Marcel, Matt or someone else?
I'll try to update as soon as I can, but I think I'm going to update my other stories first which I'm aiming to do by the end of the week, I've already done A New Era.
I'll see you next time, bye:D
